Shloka 10

Mahādāna-prakaraṇa (The Doctrine of Great Gifts): Suvarṇa–Go–Bhūmi and Tulā-dāna

Devanagari script

अग्निर्हि देवतास्सर्वाः सुवर्णं च हुताशनः । तस्मात्सुवर्णं दत्त्वा च दत्तास्स्युस्सर्वदेवताः

Transliteration

agnirhi devatāssarvāḥ suvarṇaṃ ca hutāśanaḥ | tasmātsuvarṇaṃ dattvā ca dattāssyussarvadevatāḥ

Translation

அக்னியே எல்லாத் தேவதைகளின் வடிவம்; பொன்னும் ஹுதாசன அக்னியின் இயல்பே. ஆகவே பொன்னைக் தானமாக அளித்தால், எல்லாத் தேவதைகளுக்கும் முறையாக அளித்ததுபோல் ஆகும்.

Word by Word

• अग्निः: Agni (fire-god)
• अग्निः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), निश्चयार्थ/हेत्वर्थ

• देवताः: deities
• देवताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), बहुवचन

• सर्वाः: all
• सर्वाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘देवताः’ इत्यस्य विशेषण

• सुवर्णम्: gold
• सुवर्णम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुवर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• हुताशनः: Hutāśana (fire, eater of oblations)
• हुताशनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हुत + अशन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः ‘हुतं अश्नाति’ (he who consumes offerings)

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तस्मात् इति पञ्चमी-एकवचनरूपं, अत्र हेत्वर्थे अव्ययीभूत (therefore/from that)

• सुवर्णम्: gold
• सुवर्णम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुवर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन

• दत्त्वा: having given
• दत्त्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive), अर्थः ‘having given’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• दत्ताः: (are) given/granted
• दत्ताः: Kriya (क्रिया/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘देवताः’ इत्यस्य विधेय-विशेषण (predicative)

• स्युः: would be / become
• स्युः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन

• सर्व-देवताः: all the deities
• सर्व-देवताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + देवता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः ‘सर्वाः देवताः’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Sadyojāta

Characters & Entities

• Agni

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in the Shiva Purana?

It teaches that sacred giving (dāna), especially gold, is not merely social virtue but a karmic purification: honoring Agni—who is treated as the collective channel of the devas—refines the devotee and supports the inward turn toward Shiva-bhakti and liberation.

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

In Saguna Shiva worship, outer dharma supports inner devotion. Gifts and yajna-based offerings cultivate purity (śuddhi) and gratitude, making the mind fit for Linga-upāsanā, mantra-japa (including the Panchākṣara), and steady devotion to Lord Shiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform dharmic dāna—especially suvarṇa-dāna according to capacity—ideally alongside Agni-related worship (homa) and Shiva devotion; let the act be done with humility and dedication of merit to Lord Shiva.